Conan Signs Deal; Leno Gets His Way

I'm torn about this. On one side, I'm glad Conan is getting away from NBC so he can go elsewhere and have more freedom, but on the other side, I am so f-ing pissed that frigface Leno is getting exactly what he wants. I sincerely hope he tanks in ratings when he gets his spot back. I, for one, won't be watching him. I hope others follow suit.

In a testy meeting Jan. 12, NBC threatened to prevent Mr. O'Brien from working at another network for 2½ years, the remaining term of his contract, said people familiar with the matter. Mr. Graboff asked if Mr. O'Brien would show up for work if NBC carried out plans to move "The Tonight Show." Hollywood litigator Patricia Glaser, newly added to Mr. O'Brien's team, replied that he would, but Mr. O'Brien's allies added a threat. "As they say, 'We'll see you in court,'" the comedian's manager lobbed. Mr. O'Brien's representatives marched out of the meeting. Messrs. Gaspin and Zucker then asked Universal Studios boss Ron Meyer, a former Hollywood agent, to step in as a more neutral negotiator. Working closely with Mr. O'Brien's agent, Rick Rosen, and after hours of shuttle negotiations, the two sides agreed on broad-brush terms for Mr. O'Brien's exit, including a settlement of roughly $40 million, which includes a payout for Mr. O'Brien's staff, and a provision that he can appear on a competing network after less than a year." [wsj]

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Golden Globes 2010: Best & Worst Dressed

It's that time. Time to tear 'em apart. Time to let 'em shine. Here are Joan and Melissa's Best and Worst Dressed from the 2010 Golden Globes...

WORST DRESSED

Sandra Bullock
The color is lovely on this Bottega Veneta gown, but the fabric is so cheap looking and the see-through effect is just cheesy. Definite miss.

Halle Berry.
Usually a fashion icon, Halle is a hot mess in this Kaufman Franco number. Ooof. Not a good look.

Patricia Arquette.
A mainstay on the Worst Dressed list, Patricia Arquette just has a knack for getting it wrong--especially in this mess of a dress. Her best accessory? That piece-of-ass husband of hers.

Julia Roberts.
The pretty woman ain't so pretty in this too-casual getup. This is fine for a movie premiere or a smaller event, but not appropriate for the Golden Globes gala. A sure misstep.

Tina Fey.
She may be a funny, funny lady -- but she's no fashion genius. I was so happy to see Tina in something other than black...but this wasn't it. Oooof. This dress has a life of its own--and should be put down mercilessly. And, that's why she's last night's WORST DRESSED.













BEST DRESSED

Emily Blunt.
So lovely in this blush-colored column of distressed ruffles by Dolce & Gabbana.

Fergie.
Ahh, Elie Saab. This designer has become the red carpet designer of choice -- and it's easy to see why. This lavender gown compliments in every way possible. It takes talent to make Fergie look classy. Statement enough!

Christina Hendricks.
Now this is a statement. Christina is rocking the ruffles in this Christian Siriano gown. It's a hard color to pull off, but she looks like a delectable confection in this golden peach ode to old Hollywood glamor.

Penelope Cruz.
Always lovely on the red carpet. Everything was perfect here. The Giorgio Armani Prive lace gown, the cascading hair. Thumbs up.

Lea Michele.
Talk about a "Glee"ful presentation. This Oscar de la Renta gown is pure 1950s style in the best way. Those appliques. Those ruffles. It takes guts to carry a dress like this, and she's holding her own just fine. That's why Lea Michele is last night's BEST DRESSED.

Live Blog: GOLDEN GLOBES 2010 Red Carpet Arrivals

It's officially Award Season. Tonight's Golden Globes will be airing at 8pm (EST), but the stars are arriving right now. So, let's not waste another second!

It's a wet and squishy red carpet -- the first time ever in Globe history that it's raining. All of the umbrellas are putting a damper on the usually festive event, but we'll make due.

Lisa Edelstein arrives early, as usual.

Not loving this gown, but the color works.

 

Olivia Wilde from House. This gown does nothing for her.

Rose Byrne from Damages. Lovey color, nice accessory use on the hip.

Hair's not great -- but hey, it's raining.

 

Sofia Vergara looks complicated.

I want to solve this dress, but I'm not sure it's possible.

 

Gorgeous in Oscar DeLarenta, Lea Michele from Glee.

Such a throwback to the 50s. You can't see the appliques on the bottom in this photo.

Look for it on the Best Dressed list tomorrow ;)

 

Lauren Graham in pink. And she means it. Ooof.

Look, Melissa and I both love pink, but this is way too much pink for its own good. 

 

Oh, Maggie G. You sometimes hit, but usually miss.

And, this -- this is a miss. A mess in coral.

Toni Collette in gold mesh... Not loving it, but

she's one of the better dressed so far this evening. 

Christina Hendricks from Mad Men.

Look, I know it's a bit much -- but I kinda love this.

It's old Hollywood glamour -- Rita Hayworth meets Marilyn Monroe.

Mickey's in the house. And, he brought a very tall and tacky friend.

Neil Patrick Harris, looking fab, and his equally adorable partner, David Burtka.

Oh, my. What happened to Diane Kruger.

Usually, she's a candidate for Best Dressed.

She can count that out tonight.

Sandra Bullock. The top is fab. The bottom...not so much.

Vera Farmiga, looking lovely in black.

Much prettier on TV than photographed.

 

Newly engaged, Emily Blunt and John Kraskinski. Love her dress.

 

Jane Krakwoski -- lovely in deep purple.

Done right, unlike Sandra.

The ladies from Mad Men really got it wrong tonight.
Here are Elisabeth Moss and January Jones,
proving they should leave the fashion decisions
up to the Mad Men fashion designer.

 

Tom Ford (hotness) and Julianne Moore

(wearing what appears to be the skin of a long dead Wall St. businessman.)

 

Clooney and his gal pal from Italia -- who is a bit of a horse face.

YEAH, I said it. And talk about a tacky dress.

God help me, Fergie's my Best Dressed so far.
I HATE it when shit like that happens.

Love the top on this dress, worn by Penelope Cruz.

The party has officially started!
TRACY MORGAN IS IN THE HOUSE!
I can just hear him saying: "I love the Golden Globes so much,
I wanna take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant."

Ooof. That chick from Glee.
We might have a contender for Worst Dressed.

Marion Cotilliard. I don't hate this. I don't love this.

I'm indifferent.

Oh, look. Mariah brought her two friends AND her husband. Classy.

Look, I love Tea Leoni -- but is she going shopping to the Gap

or attending the Golden Globes??? Come on, girl.

Drew Barrymore. Hmm.
If it wasn't for that protrusion on her hip, this would be lovely.

Kate Hudson. I'm not sure what is going on here, actually.
The top is quite lovely, with the lacey ruffle peeking out from behind the structured bodice
(although you'd never know it in this photo).
But, what is going on at the bottom there is quite disturbing.

Tina! In your own words: WHAT THE WHAT?
This is a hot mess. And, dare I say it?????
Yes, Worst Dressed.
Oh, how this pains me.

Incidentally...

Joan's BACK!!!!

Joan Rivers, the mouth that roared on E! for 10 years, is coming back to bust badly dressed celebs in a series of awards-season Fashion Police operations. The clothes-minded critiques begin with Fashion Police: The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Jan. 18. Joining Rivers on the red carpet beat will be E! Network personalities Khloé Kardashian Odom, Giuliana Rancic and Jay Manuel —and Joan is clearly stoked for the gig..."I am delighted to be back on E! and to have the opportunity to say what I think about the fashions on the red carpet. Most of all, I am thrilled to have my daughter Melissa producing. I know with Melissa at the helm, I can relax and say what I really want." [e!]

Finally, things are back to normal!!!

For the record...

Joan and Melissa are Team CoCo.

Live Blogging the GOLDEN GLOBES 2010 Red Carpet...

Head here tonight at 5 to 8 pm (EST) 

for live blogging of the Golden Globes Red Carpet. 

Sure, you could watch E! and stuff, 

but this is snarkier and more truthful, 

since we don't have sponsors. ;) 

See you later!

You might wanna reconsider, Natalie

So Natalie Portman showed up to some event in a $40 Target dress. Evs.

A) she looks 12.
B) eat a hamburger.
C) the color doesn't work. it would have been better in black.
D) i appreciate the sentiment, but who cares?
E) can anyone say "lollipop head"?


Huffington Post

Deja Vu

I don't know why anyone's surprised. NBC pulled the same shit on Letterman, forcing him to leave and take his act to CBS. A wise, and profitable, move. Now, just 7 short months after Conan's debut as the Tonight Show host, NBC is shaking things up again.

But, Conan's planting his feet firmly. He issued the following statement regarding the possibility of once again, following Leno (who may get the primo spot of 11:30 back if he keeps complaining like a friggin' baby and manages to change some minds).

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.

Yours,
Conan

Toodles Simon

Simon Cowell is doing the honorable thing and taking the last lifeboat off that sinking ship known as American Idol. (Frankly, I think his main reason for doing so is that he didn't like the way the whole Paula thing went down and the new direction of the show is just not what he'd bargained for.)

Simon Cowell announced Monday that he is quitting "American Idol" in order to judge the show he created, "The X Factor," when it debuts on Fox in 2011...While "X Factor" will be yet another singing competition on network television, there are some notable differences between it and "Idol." Contestants audition — either alone or in groups — in front of an audience, like they do on "America's Got Talent." They can also be any age above a minimum, which Cowell said will likely be 14 or even lower. The most notable difference is that, as Cowell told TV critics, "the judges mentor a selection of contestants" and "the judge is judged as well as the singer." [msnbc]

It won't be the same without him. Then again, it won't be the same without Paula. Who knows? Maybe he's bringing Paula over to the X-Factor to right some very wrong wrongs.