It looks like another member of Young Hollywood's elite has caught the actress-turn-singer bug. Heroes star, Hayden Panettiere has created a video for her song "Wake Up Call" off her upcoming untitled album — which also is where the new Candies commercial (for which Panettiere is the spokesmodel) was lifted from. Our take: Holy black leather mini-dress! How old is this kid again?
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OK, this one is much funnier than Hayden's PSA (probably because you can never have enough McLovin' in your life). Heroes' Kristen Bell is reaching out to all of you to help this young Superbad star, who is destined for failure, from becoming a washed-up Hollywood degenerate. Can we get a "chicka-chicka-yeeeeah"?!
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It was fair to wonder why NBC put Kevin Reilly in the executive ejector seat just after signing him to a new multiyear contract. But after seeing his replacement Ben Silverman's debut performance at the Television Critics Association press tour, we're not wondering anymore.Instead of the doing a rope-a-dope with reporters because he's only been in the job a month, Silverman came out with guns blazing, firing off one programming announcement after another. He even made a deal with legendary sitcom producer Norman Lear. That's red meat for the TCA, since many of its members love TV the way it used to be.He's even ignored the mandate that NBC chief Jeff Zucker publicly issued last year that the network was out of the business of programming 8 o'clock with new, expensive scripted sitcoms and dramas. The first scheduling move under Silverman's watch was moving the new, expensive scripted hi-tech thriller Chuck to Monday at 8, leading into Heroes and Journeyman and turning the night into ...
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• I'm in NBC's executive session, and Kevin Reilly just announced that Heroes, My Name Is Earl, The Office and Law & Order: SVU have been renewed for another season. In far less exciting news, the Peacock has also ordered seven more episodes of Identity.• Regarding Heroes, Reilly says, "I [do know] where it's going, and it's going to be mind-blowing."• Passions' final episode will air in August. "The daypart has become extremely tough for us financially," he says.• Reilly loves Friday Night Lights. Says it deserves a better time slot. No decision about a second year (ditto Studio 60). • I just asked Reilly if he thinks SVU can succeed without Chris and Mariska. His response: "The Law & Order brand has proven that it can be stronger than any one performer. Negotiations are ongoing, and I cannot comment on that. But they are stars, and I hope they'll be our stars for the run of the show."• Heroes spin-off? "I think Tim Kring's head would explode....
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Question: Which are the top five new shows you would recommend this fall? From the previews I have read, I am most looking forward to The Nine, Heroes, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Jericho and Ugly Betty. Six Degrees sounded intriguing to me when I read the premise, but critics have bashed it, so I'm uncertain. Although it does have J.J. Abrams involved, so I'm hoping.
Answer: I'll give you a top six: my three favorite new dramas and my three favorite new comedies (the latter is almost by default because there are so few of merit). Dramas, in no particular order: The Nine, Studio 60, Friday Night Lights. Comedies, in no particular order: 30 Rock, The Class, Ugly Betty. There are a handful of shows I'll be tracking that fall on a second tier, but I can tell you that Heroes and Jericho will not likely be among them. (I know that because I write this particular column on the Internet, I'm supposed to gush on and on about any show with an element of fantasy — call it the Comic-Con factor —
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