There were rumors that Ugly Betty was going to get a makeover this season and by the looks of these pictures of America Ferrera shooting some scenes yesterday we can see the rumors are true. Gone as we know are the braces (they came off last season) and also missing are those bushy eyebrows. To me that is the best thing they have done to her so far because those things drove me crazy. I think the new look is an improvement, hopefully her attire will change too as the season goes on. If UB finishes the season since ABC banished it to Friday nights, they aren't debuting the show until October and only Vanessa Williams got an Emmy nom for the show. Whether it finishes the season or not, I think this will be the show's last with all those factors and I personally think its run its course even though they are changing things up. I will say something positive about the show, Ralph Macchio is back!!!
This fall The CW is launching 3 sexy and addictive shows this September, The Vampire Diaries, The Beautiful Life and Melrose Place and today they were in Pasadena to preview the shows!!!
The Vampire Diaries will be coming to The CW on September 10th and you will be hooked from first bite! Dawson Creek’s Kevin Williamson is adapting the popular books (that were out before Twilight) to TV with Lost’s Ian Somerhalder, Degrassi’s Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley. Paul and Ian are Vampire brothers and Stefan (Paul) was in love with a woman that looks just like Nina when he was converted back in the 1860’s. Today at press tour we were told that we will see how the two brothers became Vampires and the process they went through to become blood suckers. They said that some of the popular mythology will stay the same, but there will be new things that we have not seen in past Vampire lore. A big difference is that they will be able to wear rings that will protect them from sunlight which is why Stefan is able to go to high school. Another big change will be the difference in their powers by what blood they feed on, Stefan does animal while Damon (Ian) loves the human variety. In fact Williamson said that Damon is a happy-go-lucky Vampire who tap dances threw life because he loves to feed on the humans! And believe me Ian really captures that feel!
Here is a cute tidbit that came at the end of their press session today, Kevin Williamson got the whole cast diaries that says Vampire Diaries on it, so they can keep a journal. The two actresses said they were using them!!! So add September 10th to your journals because believe you are not going to want to miss this show!
The next show was The Beautiful Life that is produced by Ashton Kutcher and stars Mischa Barton, who wasn’t there but she was still the talk of the panel. Because I really like the show, I will get to what they said about her recent hospitalization out of the way first. They all said what was ailing her never interfered with work and she is on the set today filming and she isn’t going anywhere soon. Ashton said like her character, she brings experience to the set of younger actors. Wow at 23 she is the old one.
Ashton also talked about his modeling career and even though you would think the lead character a fresh out Iowa boy who becomes a model in NYC is about him, he said it isn’t. But we will be seeing his past experiences playing out during the show. He also said when someone told him back in his home state to become a model, he didn’t know men could do that. He thought that Marlboro man was a real cowboy. He also told us when he went to U of Iowa he went back to his dorm room and got upset because his roommate was having sex in the room. He packed up his things and was ready to leave college but on the way to getting to the airport he got sidetracked and went to his mom’s who took him back to school. After that he wanted out of dodge and two weeks later he got the opportunity and the rest is history. What was interesting that he said if given to do it all over again he would not have gone in to modeling before he started acting. The advice that would help him break in to acting was not very good according to him. I can’t wait to see what parts of his past will be played out on the show.
The panel was not all about him, but seriously I could listen to him all day because he really is more than just beauty he also has brains. Who knew? But back to TBL the show being about models will deal with body image, but they will handle it responsibly. Just from the pilot you can tell these girls are healthy and not too skinny.
The Beautiful Life will begin walking the runway on September 16th at 9p, and you don’t want to miss a single frame!
The last fall show on the panel is the one that is getting the most buzz and that is Melrose Place. The show’s creator Darren Swimmer said this is a tribute to the original, but it is its own show and that it def is. One thing that was quickly corrected is that Sydney’s death will not play out for the whole as originally reported but only for a few episodes. Just because Sydney’s murder will be resolved that doesn’t mean that will be end of seeing Laura Leighton. Also Melrose Place original Thomas Calabro said that his appearances are open-ended as of now, so he won’t be going anywhere soon! BTW the originals said the set and the pool is just like the original but better. (Side note – ABC Family’s 10 Things I Hate About You is filming on the original set for the show!)
What was an interesting fact on the panel is that only one of the new residents at Melrose Place actually watched a few episodes of the show when it originally aired and Katie Cassidy has still not seen it. I wonder if that is why this show doesn’t feel like the original, because none of them know anything about the show that started on Fox. BTW Katie’s character is tri-sexual and will do anything and anyone. Wonder what that means. I guess we will find out starting on September 8th
Paula Abdul just Tweeted the devastating news that she will not be returning to American Idol. WTF they bring back the hated and useless Kara DiGuardi who can’t judge or write a song and get rid of the much loved Paula Abdul. That is a huge mistake on Fox’s part. All Randy Jackson says is dawg and dude I’m not feeling it and Kara is like what type of artist are you, at least Paula was fun and encouraging to the contestants. Seriously it was fun to watch her with Simon and without her it will be all about Simon’s opinion and no one is going to give a flying f*ck about what the other two have to say. Seriously American Idol just got a crap load worse by losing her. The show has been going downhill and this might be the push I needed to get all those hours back.
Sorry I am beyond p!ssed over this news, how are you feeling about it?
UPDATE: The Live Feed just posted the statement confirming that Paula Abdul is sadly not returning to American Idol.
“Paula Abdul has been an important part of the ‘American Idol’ family over the last eight seasons, and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.”
All My Children which has been taping in NYC for the 39 years it has been on the air will be moving their production to LA at the end of the year and One Life to Live will take their old studios. According to ABC News the reason for the moves are to bring both daytime dramas into to the HD world.
“All My Children’s” new facility is twice as large as its current one. It includes two stages, which will allow it to keep more standing sets. It will also allow the series to switch immediately from standard-definition to high-definition TV.
“One Life to Live” will enjoy similar upgrades when the show moves into “All My Children’s” old home, which is 30 percent larger than “One Life to Live’s” current space.
After the show relocates in December, “All My Children” will begin taping episodes in Los Angeles the week of Jan. 4, 2010, and will begin airing in HD in February. The move of “One Life To Live” to its new home takes place soon after “All My Children” relocates.
Because the announcement was made today it is known how much of the AMC cast will be asked to or will be willing to make the cross country move. I am sure in the upcoming weeks and months we will be finding out who is in and out. The most interesting name on the list will be Susan Lucci, I wonder what the Soap Queen is going to do???
BTW for those of you who don’t know this, it is actually cheaper to move studios to upgrade to HD TV than to refurbish the old one which is why a lot of shows have recently moved locations.
Finally with the end of Guiding Light and All My Children moving that leaves only As The World Turns and One Life to Live in NY and that city used to have half the soaps on the air.
