Today, I’ve learned that the person is not just outside the box but outside this country. The Academy Awards is going international with its emcee choice — Australian actor Hugh Jackman, star of X-Men, Australia, and the upcoming Wolverine, as well as People Magazine’s 2008 “Sexiest Man Alive”. But, and it’s a BIG but, while the 40-year-old Sydney-born thesp of English parentage has received the AMPAS offer and is very interested, I’m told that he’s not yet fully committed. Because there’s still a lot of negotiating ahead between his showbiz representatives and AMPAS. I’ve learned that the people around Jackman want to know exactly what would be expected of him, especially when it comes to opening the Oscar broadcast. One segment of the show which reps for Jackman are objecting to specifically is the joke-telling monologue. “I don’t want that for him,” an insider told me. “He is an actor with big movies behind him and one coming this summer. He didn’t work the last 20 years to suddenly be a stand-up comedian.” http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/motion-picture-academy-wants-hugh-jackman-to-host-he-may-say-yes-if-this-oscars-are-different/
Paula Abdul has spent the better part of the week telling anyone who would listen that she’s dissatisfied with the producers of “American Idol” and the she’s upset with Simon Cowell (“he’s like a family member you can’t get rid of”). Seems a little strange to air so much dirty laundry just weeks before the new season of “Idol” premieres, but as it turns out, Abdul might not have much reason to care about awkwardness. That’s because she’s seriously considering not going back to “Idol” at all. “Paula has a reality show on MTV (‘Rah! Paula Abdul’s Cheerleading Bowl’) and her jewelry line,” says a source close to Abdul. “She’s got no reason to put herself through the stress of the show if she doesn’t want to. She’s all but done; and given her other successes, she has no reason to be afraid about speaking out now.” An “Idol” source says that the scenario — one that includes Abdul leaving as early as the pretaped auditions — is one they’re preparing for. “Obviously we have three other judges who can carry the show, and if she leaves before the live shows, the auditions can be edited so that she’s hardly noticed.” 
Actress/TV presenter Rosie O’Donnell has had her variety show “Rosie Live” scrapped after its preview on Wednesday received poor ratings. The program was aired by NBC to determine whether there was a market for the show. But “Rosie Live” pulled in just 5 million viewers and garnered scathing reviews, prompting O’Donnell to admit her show was a failure. She writes on her blog, “there will b no more. no ratings. bad reviews. yet still — a thrill 4 me.” 
While Discovery Chief David Zaslav said Friday morning that CBS Television Distribution’s The Oprah Winfrey Show will depart broadcast syndication in fall 2011, Harpo isn’t so sure. On Discovery’s first-ever earnings call, Zaslav told analysts: “The current expectation is that after fall 2011 her show will go off of … syndication, and she will come to OWN,” the cable network that Winfrey’s production company, Harpo, is creating in conjunction with Discovery. “We are talking right now about what that presence would be and what programming she would be involved in directly, but this is her chapter two, and building the OWN brand online and on-air is something and she and I are working on together. It is a core mission for her,” Zaslav said. Winfrey’s distribution deal, which she re-signed with King World (now part of CBS Television Distribution) in August 2004, expires in fall 2011. That marks the end of Oprah’s 25th season. In a statement issued this afternoon, however, Harpo responded: “While David Zaslav’s comments are true that Oprah’s current contract to produce The Oprah Winfrey Show will expire in 2011, she has not made a final decision as to whether she will continue her show in syndication beyond that,” says Lisa Halliday, chief spokesperson for Harpo Productions, Inc. In fact, a clause existed in her current contract that would have let the talk-show queen end the show in 2010, but she recently chose to extend the show’s run through the contract’s full term. 
“American Idol” former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe recently revealed that Simon Cowell is earning $36 million a year from the show. It’s not news that Cowell makes some serious coin — he’s been ranked in Forbes — but the approximately $22,000 per minute (according to Lythgoe’s calculations) that Cowell earns has fellow “Idol” judge Paula Abdul especially angry. Rumors put Abdul’s salary at closer to $5 to $8 million per season. “Paula knew that Simon was getting paid more, but she never imagined it was this much more,” says a source who works with Abdul. “This could really put her in a bad way.” If that sounds like it doesn’t bode well for those on the show who must deal with Abdul, well, that’s because it doesn’t. “She has a lot of concerns with feeling appreciated,” says the source. “First, they bring in another judge (Kara DioGuardi) and now it’s ridiculously obvious that she’s getting pennies compared to Simon. If you thought she had reason to run late to the set now, imagine what the future may hold. I kind of feel for the assistants who are going to be made responsible for getting her on set on time. It’s always a challenge, but now? I don’t want to think about it.” As for why there’s such a salary discrepancy, Lythgoe told an Australian newspaper it’s because “it is believed (Cowell) brings more to the table.” 
Heather Mills was all set to appear in hit U.S. TV show Desperate Housewives - until actress Eva Longoria Parker demanded she be dropped from the cast. The former glamour model’s ex-publicist, Michele Elyzabeth, insists that Mills is “desperate” to make a name for herself in Hollywood and advised her to secure her a role on a high profile TV series. And Elyzabeth reveals that Mills was close to appearing in Desperate Housewives, until Longoria Parker objected to the decision. Elyzabeth says, “Heather was desperate to live in America. She wanted to be accepted by Hollywood in any way. I tried to get her on Desperate Housewives in a little cameo. “The producer was keen. I reckon they saw the chance to get some headlines for the show. But when the stars discussed it, Eva Longoria was totally against it. She demanded Heather be dropped from consideration.” And Elyzabeth insists that Desperate Housewives wasn’t the only show she tried to get Mills onto. She adds, “I even had discussion with the bosses of Ugly Betty, but they gave me a flat no. The major TV shows over there just didn’t think Heather fitted in anywhere.” 
This fall — some six months before his Late Night talker hits the airwaves — Jimmy Fallon will attempt a “soft launch” of the show, performing five- to 10-minute routines on an NBC online portal TBA. This unorthodox “dry run” is intended to let Fallon find his voice and rhythm and thus avoid the sort of pitfalls that plagued Conan O’Brien when he himself entered the late-night realm. As for Conan, he is expected to cease production on his Late Night in February, then head west to prepare his take on The Tonight Show, which will premiere sometime in June — and from a brand-new stage now in production. Fallon’s Late Night is slated to hit NBC proper “sometime in the spring,” giving him Leno as a lead-in for a brief stretch. 
Actress-turned-singer Scarlett Johansson’s debut album has received a series of scathing reviews from music critics, who have branded the star’s recordings “fussy and forgettable.” The star released her CD “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” a collection of Tom Waits covers, this week. But several reviews of the 40-minute-long disc have been lukewarm, with commentators reserving their harshest criticism for Johansson’s vocal abilities. Rolling Stone, which gave Johansson a mediocre 2.5 stars out of 5, complains, “Johansson’s voice is unremarkable and her pitch sometimes unsteady; she’s a faintly goth Marilyn Manson lost in a sonic fog.” Entertainment Weekly was also less than complimentary, giving the project an average “C” grade and remarking that her “expressionless voice” was concealed “deeply in the druggy ambiance.” The album, released on Rhino Records, contains 10 Waits covers with the exception of one original composition co-written by 23-year-old Johansson and TV on the Radio guitarist/keyboardist David Andrew Sitek. Rocker David Bowie contributes backing vocals on two of the tracks. 
Borrowing the title of filmmaker Kenneth Anger’s classic scandal bible, authors Danforth Prince and Darwin Porter have dared to publish the pictures and stories too explicit and actionable for even the pulpiest supermarket tabloids. Among those featured in full-frontal shots are Mick Jagger, Daniel Radcliffe, Ewan McGregor, John Malkovich, James Woods, Richard Gere and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. We leave it to you to decide whether all the snaps are authentic. The authors also write about the reputed size of many other stars in the book, due June 1. Johnny Depp was known as “donkey d-”, they say. Sean Connery posed nude for art studies, and one student said:”It was the biggest I’ve ever seen. It made me drop my charcoal pencil.” 
MediaTakeOut.com just caught wind that Beyonce’s management team (AKA Matty Knowles) is negotiating to get Beyonce a recurring role on ABC’s popular TV show Desperate Housewives. A source in Beyonce’s camp told MediaTakeOut.com, “They’ve already agreed to give Beyonce a cameo appearance. But [we’re] hoping that [she] could be written in for a recurring role, or possibly even a permanent one.” 
It’s no secret that “American Idol” ratings have taken a turn for the worse this year, so it stands to reason that Fox would start wondering aloud about what can be done to reverse momentum. An online market research survey was issued last week and, while the suits behind the show probe every aspect of the broadcast, there is a noticeable focus on “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest. While all of the main players were included in the question, “How important are each of the following people to your overall enjoyment of ‘American Idol’?” the survey asks participants to weigh in on two extra statements: “I like the interaction between Ryan and the contestants” and “I like the interaction between the judges and Ryan.” The extra focus has some wondering whether a hosting change might be exactly what the show needs. “Ryan is so busy turning himself into a diverse brand, one that has longevity, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to think that he isn’t worried about his job security with ‘Idol,’” said a source close to Seacrest. Reps for the “Idol” host didn’t comment as to whether Seacrest had been approached at all about a changing role on the show, but one “Idol” source did explain the questions, saying that they “fall under the leave-no-stone-unturned category more than anything else.” 
For the second consecutive week, ratings for the CBS Evening News have reached a record low. TVNewser.com reports that the broadcast averaged 5.3 million total viewers, and just over 1.5 million in the 25-54 demo — an all-time low. The week prior, the broadcast, anchored by Katie Couric, attracted 5.39 million viewers and 1.69 million adults 25-54. They are the lowest numbers recorded for the program since Nielsen began tracking network evening newscast ratings during the 1987-88 season. 
As expected, comedian Jimmy Fallon will host Late Night (12:30 am/ET, NBC) when Conan O’Brien moves to the Tonight Show in 2009. Fox News.com reports NBC won’t make the official announcement until next month, but word leaked out today about the Saturday Night Live alum. Fallon’s late-night coronation is part of what could be a late-night TV sea change in 2009. Rumors are swirling that current Tonight Show host Jay Leno has been courted by other networks about launching a new nighttime talker after he steps down next year. 
Jennifer Lopez has landed her very own reality TV show. Cameras will follow the singer as she launches a new fragrance while trying to juggle her music and acting careers with motherhood. The Maid In Manhattan star, mother to two-month-old twins Max and Emme, will co-executive produce the show for U.S. cable channel TLC. She says, “I’m looking forward to sharing this exciting journey together.” TLC president, Angela Shapiro-Mathes, tells People.com, “Jennifer is unbelievably passionate about life and will be an incredible role model for our audience.” http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2008-04-24/#2
She believes a reality show is a no-brainer. She can be herself and not have to study lines…Several production companies are interested in a Britney reality show and are willing to pay her millions 
There’s been no shortage of tales about Tyra Banks’ personality conflicts on the set of “America’s Next Top Model,” but the latest might be the most interesting since it could have a lasting impact on the show. OK! magazine reports that Banks isn’t getting along with photo shoot creative director Jay Manuel, and her days on the show could be numbered. “It’s gotten so bad that Tyra and Jay aren’t speaking,” an insider told OK! magazine. The selective silent treatment isn’t limited to Manuel, either. “Tyra barely interacts with the contestants and only wants to show up on judging day,” the source told the magazine. Net result? Banks (who wouldn’t comment on the rumors) might be looking for a new supermodel to helm ANTM. “She’s really throwing all her weight behind her talk show,” according to a source familiar with “The Tyra Banks Show.” “She’s putting lots of pressure on her staff to keep her show on the map. She had Barack Obama on, she had Hilary Clinton on — she got a taste of playing with the big boys and now ‘Top Model’ seems to detract from her big plans.” 
The Oscars are a ratings dud. Nielsen Media Research says preliminary ratings for the 80th annual Academy Awards telecast are 14 percent lower than the least-watched ceremony ever. Nielsen said Monday that overnight ratings are also 21 percent lower than last year, when “The Departed” was named best picture. The least-watched Oscars ceremony ever was in 2003, when there were 33 million viewers. Nielsen has no estimate yet on how many people watched Sunday night, but based on ratings from the nation’s biggest markets, the Oscars will be hard-pressed to avoid an ignominious record. The show had a 21.9 rating and 33 share. 
Britney Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline has shelved his plans to become a reality TV star out of respect for the troubled pop star and her family. The rapper/dancer is developing a project all about his life as a single dad of the two young sons he had with Spears during their brief marriage. But sensitivities have prompted him to rethink the series after the Toxic singer was committed to a Los Angeles hospital for psychiatric tests last week. A source says, “Everything is on hold.” 
The video that shows Heath Ledger doing drugs at the Chateau Marmont two years ago was pulled from last night’s “Entertainment Tonight” because of pressure drummed up by Michelle Williams’ reps at ID public relations, who sent out a mass e-mail Wednesday asking other Hollywood publicists and studio bigwigs to protest the “distasteful” segment. Producers allegedly paid upward of $200,000 for the video, which was teased on Wednesday’s show. “ET purchased [the video] for a large sum of money in the hope of stirring up a salacious and exploitative story about Heath, which would win them big ratings on the first day of sweeps,” ID rep John Koch wrote. “We are asking the Hollywood community to pressure ‘ET’ to pull the segment . . . Please forward this message to everyone you know.” Paramount, the studio behind “ET,” was soon flooded with calls. Scarlett Johansson text-messaged: “As if Heath’s poor family doesn’t have enough to suffer through.” A rep for Johansson confirmed she “was involved.” “ET” producers also got a call from Natalie Portman and e-mails from Josh Brolin and Sarah Jessica Parker, said a source. 
Oprah Winfrey is getting her own TV network. Discovery Communications and Winfrey announced a deal Tuesday where the Discovery Health network will be turned over to Winfrey next year, becoming OWN—the Oprah Winfrey Network. The cash-free transaction involved Winfrey turning over her Web site to Discovery, while the communications company makes her chairman of the network, which is currently seen in 68 million homes, said David Zaslav, Discovery Communications chief. “The focus of the channel will be the focus of Oprah’s brand, which is the educate and inspire people to live the best life they can,” Zaslav said.