News

Ali Vitali is moving from the Capitol Hill beat to the Dawn Patrol.

Vitali, who has spent a decade at NBC News covering politics, campaigns and Capitol Hill, will leave her correspondent role in Washington for a new job anchoring “Way Too Early,” the 5 a.m. program that serves as sunrise lead-in to the cable-news outlet’s “Morning Joe.” Jonathan Lemire, the current anchor of the program, will lend analysis and commentary to “Joe’s” 9 a.m. hour as a co-host. Vitali’s new job starts January 6.

In a statement, Vitali said she looked forward to “anchoring a show that’s been helmed by some of the smartest reporters in Washington,” adding that “I’ll continue working my sources and bringing viewers into the halls of power with fresh reporting and news-making interviews from Capitol Hill and across Washington.”

Vitali has worked her way up through the NBC News ranks,...

The Miss USA Pageant's new hosts have been announced, replacing the show's original emcees just days before the Sunday telecast.

Game show host Todd Newton and former Miss Wisconsin USA Alex Wehrley have signed on for hosting duties, along with Julie Alexandria of Ok! TV, who will comment from back stage, according to the Associated Press.

The replacements come after most of the program's hosts, presenters and judges bowed out of the annual pageant in the wake of co-owner of Miss Universe Donald Trump's controversial comments about Mexican immigrants.

Trump described Mexican immigrants as "rapists" who are "bringing drugs...

The number of people and corporations ditching Donald Trump is growing faster than the list of Bill Cosby accusers, but many Latina Miss USA contestants are sticking with the pageant. Co-hosts Thomas Roberts, Cheryl Burke, Roselyn Sanchez, Cristian de la Fuente and Jeannie Mai have all dropped out. But several Latina beauties say they will still take part in the July 12 competition despite Trump’s controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants. “My mother is an immigrant from Nicaragua, and my father is of Mexican descent,” Miss California Natasha Alexis Martinez told Latina Magazine. “That’s a deep part of my family history,...

Get your swimsuits on and ready your talents — the Miss USA Pageant will go on. The event, which has been embroiled in scandal after pageant owner (and Republican presidential candidate) Donald Trump’s controversial comments on immigration, has found its new hosts in Todd Newton and Alex Wehrley, the Reelz channel confirmed Tuesday. Newton, a Daytime Emmy-winning TV presenter, and Wehrley, herself a former Miss Wisconsin USA in 2011, will be joined by Ok! TV host Julie Alexandria, who will comment on the event from backstage. The trio replaces original hosts Cheryl Burke, Thomas Roberts and Jeannie Mai, who all dropped

read more...

The Miss USA pageant has named Todd Newton and Alex Wehrley as its new hosts, TheWrap has learned. Newton won a Daytime Emmy in 2010 for hosting “Family Game Night,” while Wehrley was Miss USA Wisconsin in 2009. Ok! TV’s Julie Alexandria has also been named as backstage host. They join the pageant amid ongoing controversy surrounding its co-owner, Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Jeannie Mai joined fellow former co-hosts Thomas Roberts, Cheryl Burke, Roselyn Sanchez and Cristian de la Fuente in dropping out of Miss USA. Also Read: 'The Real's' Jeannie Mai Becomes 5th Miss USA Co-Host to Dump...

Miss USA scored 3 new hosts, and 2 of them come with beauty pageant experience ... TMZ has learned. Reelz -- which picked up the pageant after NBC dropped it -- landed Todd Newton and Alex Wehrley to host. Alex was Miss USA Wisconsin in 2009, and Todd -- a Daytime Emmy winning TV presenter -- hosted Miss Universe in 2001. We're also told Julie Alexandria -- an "Ok! TV" host -- will be working the mic backstage for Sunday night's competition.

The Miss USA pageant has lost another co-host in the wake of Donald Trump's controversial comments about Mexican immigrants.

Jeannie Mai – who told People last week that she would remain with the pageant to support the women involved – announced that she, too, has decided to step down from her role as co-host.

Mai, 36, follows in the footsteps of Cheryl Burke and Thomas Roberts, who previously resigned as co-hosts following Trump's derogatory comments toward Mexican immigrants. (Judges including Emmitt Smith and Jonathan Scott of The Property Brothers have also bowed out of the event due to the controversy.)

"At the...

Miss USA co-host Jeannie Mai is the latest pageant participant to drop out of this year's event in the wake of controversial comments made by pageant co-owner and 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump. On Monday night, Mai announced on Instagram that she was withdrawing as co-host of this year's pageant. Last week, Mai defended her decision to stay on after co-hosts Thomas Roberts, Cheryl Burke, Roselyn Sanchez and Cristian de la Fuente dropped out by saying she couldn't abandon the pageant contestants. But Monday she said Trump's ongoing involvement with the pageant and the continuing controversy

read more...

Miss USA is homeless no more.

This year’s pageant, dropped by NBC and Univision in the wake of Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants, will air exclusively on Reelz on Sunday, July 12 at 8/7c.

RelatedNBC to Donald Trump: You’re Fired

“The decision on the part of Reelz to acquire the rights to the Miss USA Pageant was based on our belief that this special event, and the women who compete in it, are an integral part of American tradition,” said Stan E. Hubbard, CEO of Reelz, in a statement. “As one of only a few independent networks,...

Knights of the Round Table, meet your king.

Once Upon a Time has cast British actor Liam Garrigan (24: Live Another Day) as King Arthur, per EW.com, who as TVLine first reported will heavily recur during the first half of the ABC series’ fifth season.

RelatedOnce Upon a Time Revives Lancelot

King Arthur is described as a “good and just ruler” who, beneath the surface, “is a master manipulator who can carry a grudge to the grave, and maybe beyond.” He harbors an “eternal burning love” for the yet-to-be-cast Guinevere that can lean toward being a bit controlling.

Garrigan...

Miss USA lost hosts Cheryl Burke and Thomas Roberts following co-owner Donald Trump's controversial stance on immigration – but one host vows to stay with the pageant.

People has exclusively learned that Jeannie Mai, who took issue with the real estate tycoon's comments, remains committed to the pageant's cause and will be in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 12 as planned.

"While I absolutely do not condone Mr. Trump's statements, after careful deliberation I have decided to continue my role as co-host of the upcoming Miss USA Pageant," Mai, 36, says in a statement.

"For the past several years, I have been...

MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts won’t be hosting the Miss USA pageant, an NBC spokesperson confirmed to TheWrap. The MSNBC host’s exit from hosting is the latest shot fired in the war between NBC and Donald Trump; his co-host Cheryl Burke bolted a few hours before Roberts. Roberts hosted the Miss Universe contest in Sochi, Russia in 2013 and the 2014 Miss USA Pageant from Louisiana with Giuliana Rancic. Also Read: Cheryl Burke Steps Down as 'Miss USA' Co-Host Amid Donald Trump Controversy “In light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr.

“Do you honestly think that things just work out for the best? That true love conquers all?”

Showtime’s The Affair is posing a tough question in the first trailer for its upcoming second season.

RelatedThe Affair Season Finale Recap: They Can’t Handle the Truth

In the video below, Alison and Noah’s morally ambiguous relationship appears much less romantic than it did in Season 1: They fight, they cry in the shower and Noah, who was arrested at the end of last year’s finale, is thrown into a jail cell. (What are you waiting for? Press play!

Miss USA is in need of a few new co-hosts. Cheryl Burke and MSNBC's Thomas Roberts, who were set to co-host the annual pageant, stepped down Tuesday, one day after NBC pulled the program. "In light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year’s Miss USA Pageant as its co-host," said Burke in a statement. "Effective today I have withdrawn from my duties with Miss USA. Although I will not be there

read more...

Update: An NBC spokesperson confirms that Burke's co-host, Thomas Roberts, is also withdrawing from the pageant. -- The fallout continues. Miss Universe's Miss USA pageant may go on, but it'll go on without co-host Cheryl Burke. The Dancing With the Stars alum has backed out of her emcee duties amid ongoing backlash against the organization's corporate joint-owner Donald Trump. "In light of recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating [...]...

Ashley Judd, who plays Shailene Woodley‘s mother in the “Divergent” franchise, is using her celebrity to call attention to the “extraordinary” amount of gender-based abuse that women are subjected to on social media. In an interview that aired on “The Today Show” on Tuesday morning, Judd expanded on her mission that she talked about with MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts on Monday, when she announced “I’m pressing charges.” See video: Lena Dunham on Dealing With Vitriolic Internet Trolls: I React With ‘Class and a Little Bit of Sass’ “The amount of gender violence that I experienced is absolutely extraordinary,...

Nick Jonas will perform at the 63rd Annual Miss Universe Pageant on Jan. 25, Donald Trump and NBC revealed on Thursday. He is set to sing during the evening gown portion of the competition.

The multi-platinum-selling Jonas Brother will perform a three-song medley from his self-titled album at the pageant, which will be hosted by “Today’s” Natalie Morales and MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts.

Also Read: Natalie Morales, Thomas Roberts to Host 63rd Annual Miss Universe Pageant

A panel of guest judges, including Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and TV starlet/shoe designer Kristin Cavallari, was also announced on Thursday, along with...

ABC has hired actress Rosie Perez and MSNBC political commentator Nicolle Wallace to co-host The View alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell.

New 'The View' Hosts

Perez and Wallace will make their debuts as The View cohosts when the new season commences Sept. 15, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"I am beyond thrilled, honored and completely surprised that I've been asked to join The View," Perez said in a statement, reported People magazine. "Knowing that I'll be in the company of Whoopi, Rosie and Nicolle, three very smart and engaging women that I have an immense amount of respect for, makes it even more unbelievable. The opportunity to connect with our nation's audience on a daily basis ... icing on the cake! Very happy."

Wallace has yet to release a statement but has acknowledged the good news on Twitter, thanking – among others – Joe Scarborough, Bianna Golodryga, Kasie Hunt and Thomas Roberts.

News

Martin Sheen has joined the cast of Grace and Frankie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The upcoming Netflix comedy is about two rivals (Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda) whose marriages end when their husbands reveal they’re in love with each other. Sheen will play the husband of Fonda’s character.

Deadspin obtained all the complaints made to the FCC about Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend after being drafted to the Rams on Espn. (Never mind that the FCC doesn’t regulate cable channels like Espn.)

This year’s Big Brother twist could reboot the game — providing that it lives up to the hype. Each week will have two Heads of Household, along with four nominees for eviction and HoH won’t be guaranteed safety. Those changes sound like they can destroy worn-out strategies like backdooring. (I will miss the times an angry alpha-jock houseguest demands to know if he’s being backdoored.

MSNBC will issue an on-air apology for a segment Monday in which reporters wore a sombrero, played maracas and mimed taking shots of tequila on Cinco de Mayo. “On Monday, Cinco De Mayo, ‘Way Too Early’ made sarcastic references to the way some Americans celebrate the holiday. It was not our intention to be disrespectful and we sincerely apologize for the ill-advised references,” MSNBC said in a statement. Also read: Melissa Harris-Perry Gives Tear-Filled Apology to Mitt Romney for Black Grandchild Jokes “Way Too Early” host Thomas Roberts invited viewers to take a shot of tequila every time the show made reference to.

On Friday, MSNBC announced that MSNBC Live anchor Thomas Roberts will be taking over Way Too Early, the 5:30 am show that precedes Morning Joe. On this special occasion, Roberts agreed to a Mediaite Q&A on the move, how it will affect husband Patrick Abner, what it means for Roberts's future, and whether or not there was a Noah Rothman-related motive involved, among other things.

Eight months after MSNBC named Brian Shactman new anchor of Way Too Early — its pre-dawn lead-in to Morning Joe — the cable news net has tapped Thomas Roberts to replace him starting Monday. Roberts said in the announcement the job is “right in line with my career goals and aspirations.” Shactman, meanwhile, said in this morning’s announcement he’d come to the conclusion that “I don’t want politics to be my only focus. … I want to continue to branch out, making sure my career is not solely defined by that.” Shactman got the show when Willie Geist was named co-anchor of Today‘s 9 Am hour. MSNBC president Phil Griffin said Roberts got the gig because his “unique personality and point of view are just the right mix to lead-in to Morning Joe.” When The Daily Caller reported the openly gay Roberts was replacing Shactman because the left-leaning channel wants...

The Republican National Committee (Rnc) incurred intense mockery over the weekend when it tweeted about civil rights icon Rosa Parks' role in "ending racism," a condition which doesn't actually appear to have ended. On Wednesday morning, Rnc Director of Communications for Black Media appeared on MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts, and explained that "a tweet went out that had a typo in it," but that "talking about a typo and a tweet, it's old news."...

Birthday shoutouts go to Brendan Fraser (above), who is 45, Darryl Hannah is 53, Julianne Moore is 53, and Ozzy Osbourne is 65. Here’s his greatest song. Is that Julie? No way.

Johnny Weir Says Gay Protestors Are “Idiots.” “Referring to the new anti-gay law in Russia, which forbids virtually all public mention of homosexuality as a threat to children, the athlete flippantly characterized it as ‘no anal sex in front of libraries.’”

Johnny tries to explain.

The list of 15 documentary films that have advanced in the Oscar race has been released, and sadly, Bridegroom is not included. On the plus side, God Loves Uganda has a shot to make it to the final five.

Tom Daley and Maria Bello: Coming Out as None of the Above

Elton John’s gay solidarity has Moscow concert in doubt

Here’s Thomas Roberts talking with Andre Banks and Hudson Taylor about Principle 6, which is...

News

Aisha Tyler has booked a guest-appearance on HBO’s upcoming human sexuality drama Open, according to TVLine. She’ll play a married nurse with a “modern outlook on matrimony”.

In frustrating but unsurprising news, Fxx has cancelled Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, as first reported by Defamer. At this point, that raises the question if Fxx can even support original programming. Established hits like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League were able to survive a move, but instead of debuting Chozen, Fxx will air repurposed episodes of Da Ali G Show.

The combination of Guy Branum and Janine Brito will be missed.

Individually they were great, together they’re amazing.

Balancing out that loss to comedy and diversity slightly is the news that NBC is reviving Last Comic Standing with Wanda Sykes joining the show as a producer. I tend to like the talent search episodes of Last Comic Standing.

Sharon Osbourne slams The View, Liam Hemsworth does not have sex with kangaroos, former NFL player Kordell Stewart denies gay rumors in homophobic way

You may want to make sure that you’re not watching Today this morning, because Al Roker and Matt Lauer will be getting prostate exams live on the air. While I agree that this is an important topic that needs to be discussed, this just isn’t an image that I need in my head. Why does Thomas Roberts have to be in Russia right now?

Gore Vidal had more sex than you. A lot more. With famous people, with hustlers. In Los Angeles. In Italy. He even had it scheduled, like some people do with lunch.

Every two years when the Olympics happen, the United Nations passes a truce resolution of goodwill. This year, they added to it, calling “upon host countries to promote social...

Tony Perkins says Christians will be driven underground by Enda, Friendship Is Manly, Scientifically Accurate Thundercats kills your childhood

When Rep. Michele Bachmann decided to end her presidential campaign, she sat on the bus and said “God, I’m a loser.” While given Bachmann’s history, she was likely speaking to God, I like to imagine the sentence was said with the same inflection that we all use while talking about Bachmann.

Ender’s Game is set to win the weekend box office despite calls for a boycott, but with a pace for $28 million, that’s not exactly the numbers you’re looking for to launch a new franchise of an expensive movie, so maybe we had the desired effect after all.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin may sue the Pentagon to keep from having to have National Guard units issue ID cards to same-sex spouses. Her spokesman says “Gov. Fallin...

Update, 1 Pm: On Today’s MSNBC Live, Thomas Roberts asked Miss Universe pageant co-owner Donald Trump asked if giving a thumbs up to his hosting gig, which is “professionally flying in the face of” Russian anti-gay laws, “change any of your prior public stances on marriage equality here in the U.S?” “No, it doesn’t change,” Trump responded, adding that Roberts is “a wonderful guy.” Trump said he’s invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the pageant, on November 9. “I know for a fact that he wants very much to come, but we’ll have to see. We haven’t heard yet, but we have invited him.” Previous: NBC News landed itself a great angle on a big news story when MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts signed to co-host the Miss Universe Pageant in Russia next month, joining NBC’s America’s Got Talent judge/“Spice Girl” Mel B. Roberts.

MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts recently announced, in a heartfelt op-ed, that he pursued and nabbed the Miss Universe hosting gig that Bravo's Andy Cohen gave up due to anti-gay laws in Russia, where the pageant will be held. On Friday morning's MSNBC Live, Roberts interviewed pageant co-owner Donald Trump, and although Trump professed a desire to "make a difference" on Russia's anti-gay laws, he also told Roberts that his own views on marriage equality have not changed.

“MSNBC Live” host Thomas Roberts defended his decision to co-host this year’s Miss Universe pageant on Thursday, saying that he’ll travel to Russia and host the ceremony to “prove there’s hope.” Roberts will host the ceremony with former Spice Girl Melanie “Mel B” Brown in Moscow, it was announced Thursday. Roberts is replacing “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen, who co-hosted the event for the last two years but bowed out this year because of Russia’s anti-gay laws. Also read: Miss Universe Pageant Replaces Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic With Mel B and Thomas Roberts “The law is that anyone.

The Miss Universe Competition has found its new co-hosts. Donald Trump and Miss Universe Organization president Paula M. Shugart said on Thursday that former Spice Girl and current “America’s Got Talent” judge Mel B will co-host this year’s event, scheduled for Nov. 9 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow. She will be joined by “MSNBC Live” host Thomas Roberts. The pair replace “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen and E! News personality Giuliana Rancic, who had co-hosted the event for the past two years.

As the Us Government shutdown enters its ninth day, nerves are fraying at the consequences of the Republicans' attempt to derail President Obama's health care law. On MSNBC Live Wednesday morning, Retired Admiral, former Congressman, and Us Senate candidate Joe Sestak discussed, with disgust, the shutdown's effects on veterans benefits, and dropped some profanity on host Thomas Roberts while recounting what one veteran said to him.

According to a review by Glaad, only 14 of 101 major studio movies last year featured any gay characters

• All our coverage on Cloud Atlas and The Avengers

Hollywood is failing to include enough gay characters in its movies, according to a new report by the Us action group Glaad.

The organisation, formerly known as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, found that fewer than 15% of films from the six major studios last year featured gay characters, and almost all were in minor roles. Its report, dubbed the first ever Studio Responsibility Index, also found that transgender people were virtually invisible on the big screen.

"As a major influence in American culture and one of our nation's largest media exports abroad, the lack of Lgbt (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) characters in big-budget films needs to change," said Glaad spokesman Wilson Cruz in a statement. "Until Lgbt characters are depicted in these...

GLAAD just released the data from its first survey of the major movie studios, and unsurprisingly, things weren't great. Of the 101 movies the studios released in 2012, only fourteen featured an Lgbt character. And that number reflects not just Lgbt leads; it's any Lgbt character at all, even cases like the openly gay Thomas Roberts playing himself briefly in The Avengers. When GLAAD used the stricter Vito Russo Test, which demands a Lgbt character be defined by more than just their sexual orientation, only six movies passed.The highest marks went to Universal, which scored an adequate for 25 percent (4 of 16) of its movies featuring gay characters. Paramount (3 of 14, 21.4 percent), Sony (4 of 19, 21.1 percent), and Warner Bros. (2 of 24, 8.3 percent) also received an adequate grade. GLAAD failed Disney (1 of 13, 7.7 percent and that one film was The Avengers) and Fox...

Birthday shoutouts go to Scott Foley (above), who is 41, Brigitte Nielsen is allegedly 50, and Linda Ronstadt is 67.

Dangerous whackadoodle Jenny McCarthy has officially been named the new co-host of The View. On the plus side, just think of all the classic Whoopi reaction shots we’re going to get!

Tickets are now on sale for GLAAD’s big event Saturday in Hancock Park in Los Angeles. “Enjoy delicious tasting stations from incredible, high-end Los Angeles restaurants and caterers, entertainment, and an amazing food and wine-themed silent auction.” Plus it’ll have appearances from such faves as Mike C. Manning, Max Adler and Darryl Stephens. *If you buy your ticket before 6 Pm Pst on Wednesday, you’ll be entered to win a complimentary ticket for a friend!

“Ex-Gay” Pride Month canceled because who cares.

Today In Gay History: Versace’s Murder

The cast of Major Crimes for Glsen.org

I don...

A hush fell over the set of Morning Joe on Wednesday morning when MSNBC dayside anchor Thomas Roberts submitted his thoughts on Texas abortion filibuster leader state Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth). In a discussion about Republican men opposing a woman’s right to choose to have a later-term abortion, Roberts used graphic anatomical language to illustrate his belief that the Gop’s priorities relating to abortion were skewed.

Birthday shoutouts go to Chad Allen (above), who is 39, and Suze Orman is 62.

Justin Chatwin will not be returning for Season Four of Shameless.

Speaking of Showtime, they’ve announced that the Season Three finale of The Borgias on June 16th will also be the series finale.

Chandler Massey and Freddie Smith will be presenters at the Daytime Emmy Awards, Sunday, June 16th at 8Pm Et on Hln.

Gay 11-Year-Old’s Petition Against Homophobic Politician Succeeds.

Adam Lambert, Darren Criss, and many others have joined the Friend Movement, which “was created to help show positive anti-bully images through art and media. Images of people of all ages, race, gender, sexuality, and spirituality that invoke inspiration & conversation. Friend movement inspires people to prevent bullying by enabling them to be a better friend.”

The 2013 Cmt Music Awards are on tonight at 8pm Eastern and NewNowNext has The Ten Hottest Guys In Country Music.

Hot on the heels of confirmation that another threatening letter containing ricin poison was sent to President Obama, MSNBC Live anchor Thomas Roberts asked his panel, Thursday morning, if we are "seeing the dark side of the pro gun movement?" MSNBC contributor and Managing Editor of TheGrio.com Joy Reid agreed that "we are "starting to see the dark side of the gun debate," and that the ricin letters are "a frightening manifestation of it."...

Updated, 9:40 Am: ABC News and NBC News said they will expand their evening newscasts to an hour tonight to cover the aftermath of the Oklahoma tornado that so far has killed 24 including many children stuck in their schools. On CBS, the CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley is expanding to 90 minutes from 6:30-8 Pm. ABC also is airing a special edition of Nightline dedicated to tornado coverage, and ABC News’ David Muir, Ginger Zee, and Mike Boettcher will report in from Oklahoma this afternoon on Katie.

Previous, Monday Pm: The network and its sister outlets MSNBC and the Weather Channel will focus Tuesday on coverage of today’s massive twister that cut a huge swath of destruction near Oklahoma City. Along with live coverage from devastated Moore, Ok, on NBC’s Today and MSNBC’s morning programs, the broadcast network will air a one-hour special hosted by Brian Williams...

Review Jennifer Cates 1 May 2013 - 06:25

James Marsters guest stars in this week's returning episode of Warehouse 13, but is he playing the new villain? Here's Jenni's review...

This review contains spoilers.

4.11 The Living and the Dead

Here we are, back for the second half of Warehouse 13's fourth season. This episode brings a tidy ending to the mid-season finale, gives us some real emotional punches as the team and Artie work through Leena’s death, and sets up a new bad guy and gal for this half, although who will pose the biggest threat remains a mystery. We see many of the common storytelling elements in this episode, it begins with the whole team together, but shortly thereafter, they split off into two teams to solve both conflicts separately. Jinx and Claudia go to save Artie from his self-imposed coma, and Pete, Myka and Mrs. Frederic look for...

Psych celebrates its 100th episode tonight. It's a Psych-centennial!

News

Deadline joined the morning news gossip mill and contributed a report that Anderson Cooper was approached to take Matt Lauer's job on The Today Show. Cooper ended up declining when he learned that the job was being offered to him behind Lauer's back.

In further Anderson Cooper news brought to you by Deadline, the silver fox has filmed a pilot with Kathy Griffin. The project was filmed in front of a live audience at CNN studios, though it's not clear if the pilot is meant for CNN.

In a double-feature of Pretty Little Liars news, ABC Family has ordered a fifth season of the hit thriller — and ordered a spin-off series, Ravenswood. The spin-off will be set in a town near the Pll setting of Rosewood where a deadly curse has tormented the town for generations, with five...

Here is last week's caption pic winner. This week's caption pic is at the bottom of the page.

Thanks to everyone for participating! The winner is ...

"Been There, Done That.."

Thanks to jonnymohio for this week's winning caption!

Weekend Birthdays! (Note: Birthday shoutouts are for out entertainers, allies, or for any celeb that seems to have a following on Ae). Nick Zano is 35, James Van Der Beek is 36, Kerr Smith is 41 (all above), plus Jack Kenny is 55, Sharon Stone is 55, Jon Hamm is 42, and Carrie Underwood is 30.In ratings news, Glee was up a whopping 47%.In what could be an ominous sign for Southland, Shawn Hatosy has signed up for a new CBS pilot, just a week after Ben McKenzie also booked a new CBS pilot.Ed mentioned in the Meme that Joy Behar is leaving The View, and now it appears that Elisabeth Hasselback may be joining her (well,...

Governor Chris Christie's (R-nj) self-satirizing appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman has touched off a war of words between the Garden State political brawler and former White House physician Dr. Connie Mariano, who expressed support for Christie, but concern that "this man might die in office." On MSNBC Live Thursday morning, host Thomas Roberts asked his panel about Christie's fiery response, and wondered if the Guv brought this all on himself by presenting himself, on Letterman's show, as a "modern day Henry VIII."...

MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry weighed in on the controversy surrounding President Barack Obama’s lack of women and minorities in high ranking positions in his second term Cabinet. She told MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts that, while Obama’s inner circle is dominated by white men, the president is likely to surround himself with people with diverse views and opinions. She justified this by saying that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, for example, does not hold views that are representative of “the vast majority” of African-Americans.

Rhonda Lee, a Ktbs meteorologist, was recently let go after she responded on Facebook to a viewer’s comment about her looking like “a cancer patient” (Read Tommy Christopher's extensive report on the event here) due to her short hair. Lee responded by suggesting that the viewer should be more accepting of others’ appearances but said she appreciated his viewership. After her firing for this response, Lee joined MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts and host Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss the incident and the how the issue of hair care is a serious one to African-American women.

On Thursday's edition of MSNBC Live, host Thomas Roberts asked a panel of black contributors whether presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney's new ad, "Promise to America," is worthy of criticism for its lack of diversity. MSNBC contributor Karen Hunter suggested, based on the absence of minority faces in the ad, that perhaps Romney is "running for the presidency of 'Caucasia-stan' or some place that doesn't have anyone of color in it."...

Josh Dixon is half-African-American, half-Japanese, a Stanford graduate, adopted, and a likely Olympic gymnast. He also just came out publicly as gay in a great interview at Outsports. He says that being gay in the sport has been met with a shrug by his teammates, and we couldn't be happier to have a new out world-class athlete.

The list of records The Avengers broke this weekend is nearly endless, with $200.3 million in U.S. box office, the fastest film to reach $200 million, biggest domestic opening ever, and the highest Saturday ever. It's now pulled in $641.8 million worldwide, and has to help ease the pain of John Carter at Disney, sadly too late to save out studio head Rich Ross, who was fired last week.

In sad news, George Lindsay, most famous for playing Goober on The Andy Griffith Show, has passed away at the age of 83.

Wrestler and gay rights...

On Wednesday's MSNBC Live, anchor Thomas Roberts reported that Apple and Microsoft were "marrying up, asking the National Organization for Marriage, and its supporters, to boycott their companies" in response to a leaked Nom memo that detailed a strategy to divide gay people and black people. The leaked memo was real; the boycott request was not. An unamused Roberts apologized on air today, noting that the item was based on a Huffington Post satire piece.

Joss Whedon says out wait for a new Dr. Horrible is almost over. They have a number of songs written, and an entire outline done. Now it's down to scheduling, which Neil Patrick Harris is the complicated part of, but they think this summer should allow them to film. Neil's latest question is how long they'd need.

Steve Levitan says that even if it was an option, he wouldn't take Modern Family to cable with a shorter season because the kids are growing up so fast. “They’re growing. We tried to stop it and it’s not working. For that reason alone, we want to get as many stories in as we can while they’re going through these years. So we’re going to try to maintain this pace for as long as we can.” Added Levitan: “The greatest stories we hear are from gay teens that never...

2 Broke Girls creator Michael Patrick King found himself in the hot seat about the stereotypes on the show and the raunchy humor. Depending on who you read, he kind of threw a fit. Then he played the gay card. Michael Patrick King: I'm gay. I'm putting in ‑‑ Beth Behrs: What? Oh, my God. Michael Patrick King: ‑‑ gay stereotypes every week. I don't find it offensive, any of this. I find it ‑‑ I find it comic to take everybody down. That's what we're doing. Question: Does being a part of one traditionally disenfranchised group make it then carte blanche to make fun of other traditionally disenfranchised groups?

James Badge Dale is going from Shame to The Lone Ranger, signing up to play the title character's brother, Dan Reid. It's a step up for Armie Hammer, who had to play his own brother in The Social Network.

Blue Ivy...