Kenya Moore may have lost Walter but she has no trouble finding her hundreds of insecurities. CREDIT: Bravo

In the real world, as opposed to reality TV, “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Phaedra Parks would never ever do business with Kenya Moore knowing that Kenya has the hots for her husband.

But since these characters have to interact and since Kenya does video production, the producers surely “suggested” Phaedra use Kenya to produce her “donkey booty” exercise video.

No shock: it doesn’t go smoothly.

We clearly do not see the entire negotiation process. Kenya offers a $100,000 budget but I don’t know if she includes a “fee’ for herself or simply pads the budget to ensure some profit. She also appears to spring a back-end (no pun intended) fee on the profits of the video sales well into the process. She asks for what appears to be a reasonable 10 percent cut, especially since she sealed a distribution deal for them.

Phaedra, who felt the $100,000 budget was too high, …

Continue reading ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ (’This Donkey Kicks’) recap: season 5, episode 11 »

Jimmy Kimmel moves to 11:35 a.m. on ABC. CREDIT: ABC

Jimmy Kimmel’s first 11:35 p.m. show on ABC last night opened at a solid 3.1 million viewers but fell short of NBC “Late Night With Jay Leno” by 200,000 viewers. He did beat his childhood late-night hero David Letterman on CBS by 200,000 viewers.

As noted in this Wall Street Journal story, one night hardly tells the story. This will be a long-term battle. Kimmel is two decades younger than Leno and Letterman and has been growing audience while the two elders have been gradually shedding viewers.

Kimmel’s show was moved back 25 minutes, as he swapped spots with “Nightline,’ which now airs at 12:35 a.m.

He also now competes fully or partly with Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central at 11:30 p.m. (1.54 million Tuesday night), Chelsea Handler on E! at 11 p.m. and Conan O’Brien on TBS at 11 p.m. (1.01 millon Tuesday)
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TBS’s opening of “Cougar Town” last night fell a little flat: 2.2 million viewers, less than the openings …

Continue reading Ratings update: Leno beats Kimmel in first face-to-face; soft opening for TBS’s ‘Cougar Town’ »

Opening scene of “Cougar Town,” TBS edition. The gang enter Jules’ kitchen.

“It feels like we’ve been gone over a year!” says Laurie, played by Busy Phillips. (Actually, it’s only been eight months but who’s counting?)

Jules (Courteney Cox): “I honestly thought we’d never be in this kitchen again just hanging out telling our stories to each other, to the world.”

Travis, her son, played by former Marietta resident Dan Byrd: “Where were you guys?”

Jules: “Over at Ellie’s. We ran out of wine. Really intense!”

They go through their ritual of opening wine bottles.

Yes, the “Cougar Town” crew is back and ready to get their drink on. Creator Bill Lawrence sensed ABC wavering on renewal last year and approached TBS, a network he …

Continue reading TBS opens the ‘Cougar Town’ wine bar Jan. 8 »

I didn’t learn much from last night’s “Honey Boo Boo” Halloween special but here’s my grand effort:

1) Wop sided is a word – at least on this show. Yes, this is a very casual term for lop sided. The kids found a “wop sided” pumpkin. Family members compared it to Mama’s buttock’s cheeks and her stomach.

2) Don’t stick a pumpkin your head. We actually learned this from many a sitcom (see “Friends”) But Uncle Poodle decided to try it anyway and yes, he couldn’t get it off.”It looks like Mama’s pumpkin was eating Poodle,” Honey Boo Boo said.  He eventually banged his way out.

3) Mayonnaise is scary! The producers took the labels off the jars of mayonnaise Honey Boo Boo is glopping into bowls (see right). Probably smart because this was not a good advertisement for what looked like unappetizing gloppy gook. Apparently, Mama is not a fan (though she will eat chicken and tuna salad.) “It’s like a phobia,” she said. She runs away when presented with said mayo.

4) Fatter is as fatter …

Continue reading Seven things I (sorta) learned from the Halloween special of ‘Honey Boo Boo’ »

Cyndi Lauper's reality show debuts on WE-TV Saturday night. CREDIT: WE-TV

Viewers this week get inundated with new and returning shows.

You can get some reality show “love” (the 17th season of “The Bachelor” on ABC on Monday), time with your drinkin’ buddies (the fourth season of “Cougar Town,” no longer on ABC but now on TBS, on Tuesday), neurotic twentysomethings (”Girls” on HBO Sunday), a tough sheriff in a small town (FX’s “Justified” on Tuesday) or a crass, messed-up family (”Shameless” on Showtime Sunday).

And both baseball legend Pete Rose and quirky 1980s singer Cyndi Lauper get reality shows on TLC and WE, respectively.

And if you’re into films, the Golden Globes arrive on Sunday to give a preview of what the hot critics’ favorites are.

MONDAY

“The Bachelor” 8 p.m. ABC (17th season debut) — Dallas businessman Sean Lowe tries to show some personality as the new “Bachelor.”

“The Biggest Loser” 8 p.m. NBC — The NFL’s Antonio Gates encourages the contestants …

Continue reading TV best bets with Golden Globes, return of ‘The Bachelor,’ ‘Cougar Town,’ ‘Justified,’ ‘Girls’ »

"The Walking Dead" is the hottest show out there and it's shot locally. CREDIT: AMC

I’m all for brevity so here’s a year in review about TV, national and local, using no more than 140 characters, in Twitter form:

- AMC zombie drama “The Walking Dead” (shot in Senoia) infected even more fans, breaking 10 million viewers a week. But we still miss T-Dog!

- Andy Griffith’s 1960s show remains as popular as ever in Atlanta, gets 7:30 p.m. slot on WATL-TV. Soon after, he goes fishin’ in that great lake in the thereafter.

- Atlanta lost MTV’s “Teen Wolf” to Los Angeles, but USA’s “Necessary Roughness,” VH1’s “Single Ladies” and many BET shows still thrive.

- Farewell to classy Channel 2 Action News anchor Monica Pearson after 37 years and 3,700 hairstyles.

Honey Boo is visited by my colleague Jenn Brett a few months ago. CREDIT: Jennifer Brett/ajc.com

- The world redneckonized pageant girl Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson and her wacky Georgia family. Sure beats being Kate Gosselin!

- …

Continue reading 2012 TV year in review in Twitter form: Walking Dead, Andy Griffith, Honey Boo Boo, Amanda Davis »

PBS’s biggest hit in many years (thanks to those Brits) is “Downton Abbey,” which returns to GPB Sunday for a third season.

Watch for spoilers online because the show debuted in Britain more than three months ago.

NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” is back the same night after taking the fall off and is bringing in kids for the first time. And Jillian Michaels returns after a break. Atlanta’s Dolvett Quince is back for a third cycle.

And those nutty “Mob Wives” return Sunday on VH1 for a third round. (The spinoff out of Chicago died after one cycle)

Three Atlanta-based reality shows also arrive on Tuesday: Kennesaw’s “Double Divas” on Lifetime, “Totally T-Boz” on TLC and “The Sisterhood” right afterwards on the same network.

MONDAY

“New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebrates Dick Clark” 8 p.m. ABC — Jenny McCarthy and Fergie host a celebration of the late great Dick Clark, who turned New Year’s into a big TV event four decades ago. Later, Ryan Seacrest hosts with live performances …

Continue reading TV best bets with returns of ‘Downton Abbey,’ ‘The Biggest Loser,’ ‘Mob Wives’ »

Reality television blossomed after “Survivor” debuted in 2000 and has expanded into dozens of sub genres. Music shows. Paranormal activities. Auctions and pawn shops. Weddings.a

Three new shows debut Tuesday follow particular archetypes – all with metro Atlanta ties and all targeting women.

Let’s break them down:

“The Sisterhood”9 p.m. Tuesday TLC

Descriptive style: Bring ladies with strong personalities together and let the fur fly!

A gentler cousin to: “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” “Mob Wives.” “Basketball Wives.”

What makes this one special: The focus is on five diverse metro Atlanta women who are preacher’s wives. As a result, the women say they are held to higher standards. This means no cursing and physical violence, as seen on other shows, but they do get into verbal fisticuffs. Early standout is Tara Y. Lewis, whom another cast member dubs “bananas.”

Quotes: “People expect me to have it all together. I should never struggle. I …

Continue reading Three Atlanta-based reality shows debut on Jan. 1: ‘Double Divas,’ ‘Totally T-Boz,’ ‘The Sisterhood’ »

Piers Morgan took over for Larry King but ratings have not followed. CREDIT: AP

Busy day in TV with Georgia ties so here’s a quick summary:

- The New York Post is throwing out rumors about incoming CNN prez Jeff Zucker moves at CNN Before Zucker has even officially taken over. Speculation includes moving Piers Morgan to late night, 10 p.m. or later, from his current 9 p.m. slot. And bringing Ann Curry from NBC News to CNN.

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“Honey Boo Boo” is back for some holiday specials early next year on TLC:

Halloween – Sunday, January 6 at 9 p.m. EST
Thanksgiving – Sunday, January 13 at 9 p.m. EST
Clip Show – Sunday, February 10 at 8 p.m. EST
Christmas – Sunday, February 17 at 8 p.m. EST

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Turner released some ratings highlights:

• TBS ranks as basic cable’s #1 network for the year-to-date among adult 18-34 in primetime.

• TNT has five shows – The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes, Perception and Dallas – among basic cable’s Top 10 original series for the year-to-date, …

Continue reading TV tidbits: CNN speculation, ‘Honey Boo Boo’ specials, TNT/TBS ratings highlights »

What will Brody do now? CREDIT: Showtime

Sunday lately has felt jam-packed, like Spaghetti Junction during rush hour. A few of the big shows are taking breaks now though.

Showtime is finishing up “Dexter” and a sophomore year of “Homeland.”

TBS, in the meantime, is burning off remaining new episodes of its sitcom “Are We There Yet?” by airing them at 9:30 a.m. I guess it’s better than not airing them at all.

MONDAY

“American Country Awards” 8 p.m. Fox — Performers include Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and Luke Bryan.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” 8 p.m. ABC — The team helps a veteran wounded in Iraq

“How I Met Your Mother” 8 p.m. CBS — Marshall’s widowed mother gets back into the dating pool.

“The Voice” 8 p.m. NBC — Lithonia’s Trevin Hunte is in the top four.

“2 Broke Girls” 9 p.m. CBS — Max and Caroline host a grand-opening celebration at their cupcake shop.

“Mel Brooks Strikes Back!” 9 p.m. HBO — He discusses his long …

Continue reading TV best bets with season finales of ‘Survivor,’ ‘Dexter,’ ‘Homeland’ »