Scandal-Plagued Ex-DA to Become TV Judge

New show will flash back to the '80s

(NEWSER) - Gossip Girl fans, rejoice. After denying the rumors for months, the show’s producers now tell the Hollywood Reporter a spinoff is in the works. The new show will be set in the 1980s and tell the story Lily van der Woodsen—mom of Serena—and how fast times in Hollywood introduce Rufus Humphrey, and a secret pregnancy, as plot twists. More»

She's 'in a very good place' after bumpy ride in marriage, politics

(NEWSER) - Becoming a TV judge seems, in her own words, to have “mellowed” Jeanine Pirro, who long added color to New York’s state political scene with a fiery stint as Westchester County’s district attorney, spiced with a brief Senate run opposite Hillary Clinton and a rocky marriage to a man with alleged mafia connections. “I’m in a very good place,” she tells the Times. More»

You'll spoil it for others—and yourself: Daniel Carlson

(NEWSER) - If you've ever had a television show spoiled by live-tweeters, you'll probably appreciate Daniel Carlson's directive: "Step away from the keyboard," he begs viewers, because "live-tweeting ruins everything." Yes, he's annoyed at plot spoilers—but more importantly, he points out on Pajiba , tweeting while watching the show "negatively affects the way you experience the story." He doesn't even check Twitter while watching Breaking Bad, he points out—not to avoid spoilers, but simply because he's engrossed in the show. More»

These tropes are so overused, they're not funny anymore

(NEWSER) - If you're tired of hearing sitcom characters joke that they just threw up in their mouths or ironically comment, "That went well," after something decidedly didn't, you're not alone. On Vulture , Margaret Lyons lists 10 overused TV situations and lines she'd be happy to never hear again:

• "And by [thing], I of course mean [opposite of thing]." Lyons would say, "Chandler Bing called and he wants his ironic detachment back," except that joke is "even more overdone."
• "He's standing right behind me, isn't he?" Sure, it is plausible that in real life, a person might be caught gossiping. "But no one has ever actually, authentically said, 'She's standing right behind me, isn't she?'"

And its long run could continue for quite a while: USA Today

(NEWSER) - American Idol has dominated the Nielsen ratings for 10 seasons, and its 11th season starts up tonight. Bill Keveney of USA Today rounds up some reasons why this pop culture institution might just go on forever: More»