Tattle: Ellen: Like Abdul, but minus chemistry
AMERICAN television - or at least the Fox network - has achieved homeostasis. Don't look it up. We'll explain by example.
AMERICAN television - or at least the Fox network - has achieved homeostasis.
Don't look it up. We'll explain by example.
First, talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres was announced as the crucial replacement for Paula Abdul on "American Idol."
DeGeneres, like Abdul, always seems to be appraising things through some kind of smiley, happy cloud where everybody's great. Though unlike Abdul's, DeGeneres' optimism appears genuine, not chemically induced.
They both like to dance, too.
Get the symmetry here?
Speaking of which, John Stossel, whose libertarian viewpoints and mustache-in-your-face style queased stomachs at ABC, has jumped to the Fox News Channel, the unashamedly hyperbolic network announced yesterday.
He'll have a smaller (though perhaps more like-minded) audience but more time on air as he does a weekly show on the Fox Business Network and makes frequent appearances on the channel.
"I'm grateful to ABC for allowing me to do stories that challenged conventional wisdom, and occasionally enraged many of its viewers," Stossel said in a blog posting. "But it's been said that everyone should change jobs every seven years. I've been at ABC for 28 years."
DeGeneres announced her big news on her syndicated talk show yesterday, gushing that "I've been dying to tell everyone . . . it's going to be so much fun."
DeGeneres said that she's seen every episode of "A.I."
"I love everything about it, and I love music, as you know," she said. "And, hopefully, I'm the people's point of view, because I'm just like you . . . "
DeGeneres professed love for Paula and hoped that she "is OK with it."
Not likely. A source told RadarOnline.com that "privately, Paula is very upset. She's never going to admit it publicly, but this stung." Abdul had hoped that a last-minute return might be negotiated.
"American Idol" 's ninth season auditions are under way, with guest judges such as Victoria Beckham and Avril Lavigne filling in for Abdul. The show returns to TV in January.
Woodstock, the musical
There've been documentaries, books, movies and, of course, songs. Now, the legendary festival will become a musical, to be staged in the 2010-2011 Broadway theater season.
It will be based on Michael Lang's best-selling book, "The Road to Woodstock." He cofounded and produced the 1969 concert. There will be new music as well as songs performed at the concert.
Daily News wire services contributed to this report.
Howard Gensler is on assignment.