Last month, I received an advance copy of a book titled “Elimination Night” about a fictional “Project Icon” show that may or may not be a satire of “Idol.” It appears to have been written by someone who worked on “Idol” (thus, the “Anonymous” author name) during season 10, when Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined the judges’ panel. The characters are thinly veiled versions of the real thing with dumber names.  Wayne Shortline, the host, sounds suspiciously like workaholic Ryan Seacrest. Bibi Vasquez is a bit like an egomaniacal Lopez. Joey Lovecraft is the crazy fictional take on Tyler. Nigel Crowther left “Project Icon’ for his own TV show “The Talent Machine.” Paging Simon Cowell? Leonard Braitwaite masequerades as a cruel version of Nigel Lythgoe.

Naturally, we don’t know exactly what is based on truth and what is purely made up, which is the point of these books. Inspire intrigue. I have yet to read its nearly 300 pages, save for the first few pages. If I have some …

Continue reading ‘Idol’ bits: a thinly veiled fictional account of ‘Idol,’ Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood »

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 06: TV personality Nene Leakes and Gregg Leakes attend Voli Light Vodka's Holiday Party hosted by Fergie Benefiting Cellphones for Soldiers at SkyBar at the Mondrian Los Angeles on December 6, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images for Voli Light Vodkas)

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member and “New Normal” actress NeNe Leakes told Jimmy Fallon on his talk show Thursday that she and Gregg are engaged again.

The couple divorced in 2011 after 14 years, but he managed to get her back into his good graces.

Gregg told a radio host in 2010 how he felt NeNe’s fame had gone to her head and he had invested a lot of his own money into her career.

During season four of the Bravo reality show, as she was going through the divorce, she seemed miserable and angry. Any effort to “date” seemed halfhearted at best.

But after her 2011 appearance on “Celebrity Apprentice, she has seen her star rise in Hollywood, first …

Continue reading NeNe Leakes engages Gregg again two years after divorce »

"Better Mornings Atlanta" expanded to 9 a.m. under Eric Ludgood's watch as news director. CREDIT: CBS

CBS Atlanta – which has stabilized in recent years but remains a third or fourth place finisher in the ratings in most time slots – has cut its news director Eric Ludgood after two years.

Ludgood worked at the station as an assistant news director for several years, left briefly for Raleigh, N.C., then came back in early 2011.

General manager Trey Fabacher, who joined the station in the fall, said this is his fifth “turnaround” effort as a general manager of general sales manager. He last spent six years lifting ratings at the CBS/CW duopoly in Detroit and is seeking a “new direction” at CBS. He wished Ludgood well in his future pursuits.

One employee, who wasn’t authorized to speak, said Ludgood was well liked by staff and “cared about you personally.”

Fabacher wouldn’t provide me details of what direction he’d like CBS Atlanta to take under a new news director, but he said …

Continue reading Are big changes forthcoming at CBS Atlanta? News director Eric Ludgood is out »

William Shatner will be in Atlanta January 13 to talk about his favorite topic: himself. CREDIT: AP

William Shatner built a reputation on “Star Trek” in the late 1960s as an egotist who loved to hog the spotlight.

He has since spent the past four decades deconstructing and mocking his aggrandizing public persona in TV ads, talk shows, documentaries and now, a one-man show. Shatner stops by the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Sunday, providing fans a two-hour trek through his life – from his early acting days doing Shakespeare through the “Star Trek” phenomenon to his more recent successes on TV, including “The Practice” and “Boston Legal.”

How well do you know Shatner? Take this quiz.

The energetic 81 year old talked to the Atlanta Journal Constitution recently to promote his show and, of course, himself:

Q: What should we expect when we see the show?

A: It’s great entertainment. I’ve gotten wonderful reviews both in New York, where it opened, and on the road. …

Continue reading A talk with William Shatner to promote his Cobb Energy show Jan. 13 »

Kathy Griffin and Andersoon Cooper goofed around again on New Year's Eve on CNN. CREDIT: CNN

Parents Television Council, which monitors rudeness and  lewdness on the TV and radio airwaves, complained about comic Kathy Griffin’s “obscene and unhinged” behavior on CNN’s New Year’s Eve special Monday night.

Griffin, who has co-hosted the New Year’s special with Anderson Cooper on CNN the past few years, has cursed and stripped down in the past in a blatant attempt to rouse anger and gain publicity. On Monday night, she did it again when she simulated a sexual act on Cooper that is generally not acceptable on broadcast TV.

It’s true that the Federal Communications Commission has no oversight over basic cable networks, the PTC felt many children were watching the show at that time and it was unbecoming of the CNN brand, as one TV critic in Baltimore felt.

I requested a comment from CNN but did not get one. Griffin wasn’t backing down.

“If you think this is the part where I’m …

Continue reading Parents Television Council complains about Kathy Griffin’s shenanigans on CNN »

This is Rihanna's 12th No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. CREDIT: Def Jam

The holidays didn’t stop Rihanna’s “Diamonds” from continuing to shine bright on Atlanta radio, as the mid-tempo pop/R&B song reaches four weeks on top.

The song is both a top 40 and urban hit, so it was heard on five stations last week 389 times: Hot (five spins), V103 (51), Q100 (73), Wild 105.7/96.7 (122) and Power 96.1 (a whopping 138 times).

No other song is even close. Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” is a distant second with 285 spins with former No. 1 “One More Night” by Maroon 5 just a couple of spins behind that.

Top 10 songs
1. Rihanna “Diamonds”
2. Bruno Mars “Locked Out of Heaven”
3. Maroon 5 “One More Night”
4. Fun. “Some Nights”
5. Flo Rida “I Cry”
6. Lumineers “Ho Hey”
7. Ne-Yo “Let Me Love You:”
8. Pitbull “Don’t Stop the Party”
9. Miguel “Adorn”
10. Pink “Try”
CREDIT: Mediabase 24/7

Top 5 songs on various radio stations
V-103
1. T.I. “Ball”
2. Keyshia Cole “Trust and Believe”
3. 2 …

Continue reading Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ dominate Atlanta radio in its fourth week »

I spoke with CineStars’ Brittany Umar about Chilli and Hines Ward on the upcoming second season of Food Network’s “Rachael vs. Guy,” Lifetime’s “Double Divas” and TLC’s already polarizing “The Sisterhood.”

Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter. Oh, and Google +, too!

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Continue reading Video: talking ‘Sisterhood,’ ‘Double Divas,’ ‘Rachael vs. Guy’ »

Sidekick Christopher "Crash" Clark, producer Daniele Hood and host Ryan Cameron after the first show today with a "Ryan King" crown. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

Ryan Cameron may come across as jokey and fun on air, but he takes his job ultra seriously.

And he seriously wants to grow V-103’s already huge morning audience.

He opened his first official morning show on V103 on a low-key note. No inordinate bravado, no fan-fare or big celebrity buddies calling in (though his son Cayden did.) His most prominent in-studio guest was Atlanta’s own R&B singer Ciara, who joked with his team during the 9 a.m. hour.

“The show is about the city,” Cameron said after his first show had ended Wednesday as he relaxed in his communal office, still dressed sharply in a blue pin-striped suit and bow tie. “The intro we did with Future, he’s naming pretty much every major area of metro Atlanta. We will not be celebrity focused.”

Even with Ciara in studio, he purposely …

Continue reading Exclusive interview with Ryan Cameron after his first day as V-103 morning host »

Ty Pennington will host a new HLN show debuting January 12. CREDIT: AP

Former Grant Park denizen and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” host Ty Pennington has signed on for a new monthly show on Atlanta-based HLN.

Dubbed “American Journey,” the series will debut January 12 at 8 p.m. and repeat again the next day. It will air monthly.

According to the HLN press release:

American Journey covers stories of individuals and communities who have found inventive and surprising ways to address today’s challenges by applying the lessons of American pioneers. Hosted by Pennington, the series will follow these fascinating people (part of a growing subculture of entrepreneurs and creative thinkers) as they attempt to re-invent America.

HLN General Manager Scot Safon said the show will fit into the HLN oeuvre of spotlighting what’s good and inspirational in America. “Ty’s television work demonstrates a great understanding of the American generosity, compassion and creativity that helps …

Continue reading Ty Pennington joins HLN with new ‘American Journey’ show »

Kris Allen will be at Eddie's Attic January 20. CREDIT: AP

Season 8 winner Kris Allen is set to perform at Eddie’s Attic Jan. 20 and a recent head-on car accident won’t stop that. He broke his wrist, which means no guitar playing any time soon. Check out a photo here.

In better news, he Tweeted that he and his wife are expecting a baby.

Kris Allen ‏@KrisAllen

Yes I got in a really bad wreck tonight and yes I’m having a lil baby. #gonnabeadadd

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Rolling Stone caught some blind auditions with Usher and Shakira subbing in for Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera on “The Voice.”  Atlanta’s Usher had this to say:

“You can’t really compare my style to anybody,” Usher said of his approach to coaching. “My style is more military than anything, because I’m all about the preparation and have always been. I rehearse a million times to be prepared. My style is to make them understand the seriousness of the craft and that they have the very best opportunity to be the …

Continue reading ‘Idol’ bits: Kris Allen breaks wrist in accident, getting a baby »