Apparently, the talk show host and comedienne never felt comfortable at Fox’s flagship karaoke contest and her rumoured feud with Simon Cowell (they hated each other) didn’t help.  Ellen and her reps supposedly went to the network brass and asked to be let out of her contract one year early, saying she wasn’t happy and “it’s not been fun”.  Yikes.

In a statement posted on her website, Ellen wrote, “A couple months ago, I let FOX and the “American Idol” producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me. I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on “Idol” and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”

There’s nothing wrong with hurting someone’s feelings if they hurt your ears first.  Just sayin’…

For their part, execs at Fox continue to be all smiles, saying how wonderful it was to work with Ellen, blah blah blah, “fortunate to work with”, blah blah, ”incredible spirit”, blah.

Meanwhile, Deadline Hollywood says that Jennifer Lopez has signed on to replace Ellen in a secret deal that was finalized earlier this week.  J-Lo could use the work and the money, seeing how her career hasn’t exactly been on an upwards trajectory lately.  So far this year, she’s been dropped by her record label and her latest movie, The Back-up Plan flopped.

No word if new producer Nigel Lythgoe plans on making “other” changes on American Idol (cough – Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Karla Diogardi – cough).  Rumour is that Nigel really wants Elton John to come in to replace Simon Cowell (whom he makes look like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm), but Elton supposedly wants too much money and has touring committments he can’t get out of.   Boo.

Stay tuned….

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Everyone’s favorite serial killer of killers is back for a fifth season starting in September 26th on Showtime.  The trailer premiered at Comic-Con in San Diego the other day.

“Sins may be forgiven, but conscience is a killer.”  Great tagline.

I haven’t seen season four myself yet, but heard what happened (the perils of being a pop culture and TV junkie).  However, I’ve found that with most things, it’s all about the journey, not the destination.

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I stopped watching CSI a few years ago.  It wasn’t that I thought it was bad (hello, CSI:Miami), it just simply had run it’s course for me and I moved on. 

Anyway, looks like CBS is trying to attract some buzz and new viewers to their flagship procedural drama by announcing a major piece of stunt casting in a desperate attempt to stay relevent. 

Justin Bieber will be making his acting debut in the season premiere of the show playing “a troubled teen who is faced with a terrible decision regarding his only brother — a decision that leads him into an explosive confrontation with the CSIs.”

So the Bieb has acting aspirations like Justin Timberlake now?  

Heaven help us.

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Apparently, one slightly insane, greedy, famewhore and her litter just isn’t enough to bring in the viewers, so Kate is packing up the kids and heading up to Alaska this weekend to go on a camping trip with the ex-governor made Fox News  pundent which will all be taped by TLC.

Is Sarah Palin doing this to drum up interest for her own reality series, Sarah Palin’s Alaska (the jokes almost write themselves) which is also going to be on TLC, or is she maneuvering to take another run at politics in 2012?

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Weeds is back!  Do you still care in this post Breaking Bad (the show Weeds wanted to be) world? 

Even though the producers pressed the re-set button on it three seasons ago making the show almost unrecognizable from when it first started, I still get a kick out of it.  Justin Kirk and Kevin Nealon provide much of the comic relief and Hunter Parrish (Silas Botwin) is always nice to look at.

One complaint though.  If the Botwin family is on the run and headed to Canada shouldn’t they be going to BC instead of Alberta?  The show is called Weeds after all.

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When I first saw the title for Sharktopus I had to wonder if last summer’s Mega-Shark vs Giant Octopus on Syfy was actually a tale about forbidden love.

Thankfully, the answer to that is no.

Sharktopus is from director Roger Corman, the 21st century version of Ed Wood (Plan 9 From Outer Space).  Known for his grade Z genre films, Corman is the perfect fit for Syfy‘s Original Saturday Night monster movie franchise, which fully embraces his style.

Bad acting?  Check.  Worse dialogue?  Check.  Non-special non-effects?  Double check.  Don’t even get me started on the soundtrack, which sounds like a mash up between one of those beach movies from the 60′s and something from Quentin Tarantino on a bender.

Park your brain and behold the stupdifying awfulness that is Sharktopus.

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Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, who floored everyone when they announced in last week’s US Magazine that they were engaged, have been shopping around several pitches for a reality TV show starring themselves and their 2 year old kid, Tripp, as they work, play, and go about their daily routines. 

Sounds fascinating.  

However, no one is buying what they’re selling (yet).  Apparently, network execs think the pair are “boring” and “neither of them have personalities”.   Having previously seen Levi on Live with Larry King when Kathy Griffin subbed for the geriatric sex symbol, I can honestly say that’s a pretty accurate statement.

Silly famewhores!  What they need to do is create some drams for the show.  Involve Levi’s Palin hating sister Mercedes, Bristol’s ma, Sarah, and promise occasional appearances by Kathy Griffin.  That would guarantee a ratings bonanza.

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Oh, this trainwreck is going to be EPIC.

Apparently, Faithless Hussy is going to do a stint with Dr Drew before skipping off to be in Celebrity Apprentice (NBC still has to OK her involvement, but will likely want to keep Trump happy) later this year.

No word yet on what Faithless Hussy’s addiction is.  Bad weaves and hair extensions?  Tanning beds?  Collagen injections? Fame?  Money?  Sex with other peoples husbands?  The possibilities are endless.

Other non-noteables joining the cast for production of the much delayed season are Leif Garrett, and Frankie Lons (mother of Keyshia Cole, whomever that is).  Filming is scheduled to start soon, with episodes airing later this year.

Can’t wait to see Faithless Hussy and Janice Dickinson fight interact.

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Because nothing says you’ll make a good business person like f*cking at least two other women’s husbands, having your friends sell the stories to the tabloids, then hiring a famewhoring lawyer to shake down the men you had affairs with (to the the tune of $10 million in Tiger Woods’ case).

Guess Faithless Hussy (Uchitel) just can’t stay out of the spotlight, and Donald Trump knows a draw when he sees it, even if it’s one that people love to hate.  (Here’s hoping he just wants her on to say “your fired”).

Trump’s wife, Melania better keep her eyes open, since Donald is exactly what Faithless Hussy looks for in a man, famous, extremely wealthy, and married, (plus he’s strayed before with his previous wives). 

The best drama on the new season of Celebrity Apprentice could actually be going on behind the cameras.

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Out with one crazy trainwreck (Tila Tequila), in with another (Janice).

TMZ says the modeling agency owner, reality TV mainstay and Tyra Banks nemisis is supposedly joining Dr Drew and company to shake her alcoholism.

Dr Drew must be almost as crazy as Janice if he thinks he can have her there and escape completley unscathed.  Wonder who Janice will end up fighting with (hint: everybody) during the new season?

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