Stern Sidekick Hijacks New HBO Show

(NEWSER) - Some things are certain: death, taxes, and Cinemax showing women with their shoes on having sex late at night. Soft-core porn is "in our DNA," an exec with the parent company of "Skinemax" tells the LA Times . "We're not running away from it." Neither are its premium-cable competitors, which are hardly relegating racier content to late night. Consider HBO's True Blood and Showtime's explicit Californication. More»

Claire Danes shines in title role as animal behavior expert

(NEWSER) - Temple Grandin, the renowned animal behaviorist who credits her achievements to her autism, values "tangible results" over emotion—and so does her HBO biopic. The eponymous film, debuting tomorrow, "avoids the mawkish clichés" so typical of made-for-TV movies, instead delivering "a movie that is funny, instructive, and also intangibly charming," writes Alessandra Stanley in the New York Times . More»

HBO show resuscitates Larry David's other brainchild 10 years later

(NEWSER) - Tonight's episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm will go farther than usual to satisfy your Seinfeld craving, but it's hardly the real thing—nor is it meant to be. The eagerly awaited reunion arc kicks off with Jerry Seinfeld himself deeming the very idea "desperate" and "pathetic," which he explains is true to his real-life reaction. And "surreal is the only word" to describe working on the sitcom's rescued sets, the comedian tells USA Today. More»

Plus, Beyonce launches fashion line, and more

(NEWSER) - What’s next for Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle? Maybe some remixing. “A dance mix of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ would go down a storm in the clubs,” a member of a UK dance group tells the Mirror. Elsewhere:

• Beyoncé’s alter ego, Sasha Fierce, is coming soon to a store near you. Ms. Knowles and her mother are launching an “edgier and trendier” juniors fashion line based on Sasha, Tina Knowles tells Women’s Wear Daily.

Also: Madonna's rude posse and Miley the designer

(NEWSER) - Jessica Simpson blew the bank on her birthday present for boyfriend Tony Romo, forking over $100,000 to buy the Dallas Cowboys QB a speedboat for his 28th, Cover Awards reports. But the oh-so-generous singer is hoping he'll repay the favor—with an engagement ring. In other celeb news: More»